Abstract: A retardation film comprising a transparent support, disposed on a surface thereof, an alignment layer and an optically anisotropic layer is disclosed. The transparent support and the optically anisotropic layer satisfy following relations: Re(DLC)<60 nm??(1) (?0.5)×Re(TS)+40?Re(DLC)?(?0.5)×Re(TS)+80??(2) 0.5×Rth(TS)?10?Re(DLC)?0.5×Rth(TS)+30??(3) where Re(DLC) indicates retardation in plane of the optically anisotropic layer; Re(TS) indicates retardation in plane of the transparent support; and Rth(TS) indicates retardation along the thickness direction of the transparent support.

Abstract: A method for recovery of polymer, comprising contacting a polarizing plate comprising a polarizing element and first and second polymer films on its both surfaces, with at least an aqueous liquid, and then applying shear force to the polarizing plate to thereby separate the polarizing element and at least the first polymer film, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a cellulose acylate film, comprising casting a polymer solution that comprises a plasticizer having a number-average molecular weight of 200-10000 and a cellulose acylate to form a web; stretching the web having a residual solvent amount of 100-300% by mass in one direction at from ?30° C. to 30° C.; drying the stretched web to reduce the residual solvent amount from 6-120% by mass to less than 12% by mass while controlling the surface temperature of the web so as not to reach 200° C. or higher; and stretching the resulting film at 60-200° C. in a direction different form the stretching direction of the first stretching.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film satisfying the following formulae: 50 nm<Re<400 nm ?200 nm?Rth?50 nm |Nz|?10 wherein Nz represents (Rth/Re)+0.5. The film has an excellent optical compensation performance and a high productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical film produced by stretching a film having a low residual solvent amount in a machine direction followed by heat-treating it at a temperature falling from the glass transition point (Tg) to the melting point (Tm) thereof, which is a cellulose acylate film satisfying the following relations (1) to (6) and containing at least one cellulose acylate and at least one retardation enhancer having an absorption maximum wavelength ?max of from 280 nm to 380 nm: (1) 35 nm?Re(550)?75 nm, (2) 85 nm?Rth(550)?140 nm, (3) 0 nm<?Re(630?450)?40 nm, (4) ?75 nm??Rth(630?450)<0 nm, (5) 2.7?A+B?3.0, and (6) B?0, wherein “A” means a degree of substitution with an acetyl group of said at least one cellulose acylate, and “B” means a degree of substitution with an acyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms thereof.

Abstract: An optical film which has Re(?) and Rth(?) fulfilling the following two formulae: 0?Re(590)?10 |Rth(590)|?25 wherein Re(?) is a retardation value in plane (nm) at a wavelength of ? nm; and Rth(?) is a retardation value in film thickness direction (nm) at a wavelength of ? nm.

Abstract: An optical compensatory film of a laminated structure comprising a first optically anisotropic layer having an Re(550) of 20 to 100 nm wherein retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm is never 0 nm along any direction and the direction along which the absolute value of retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm reaches minimum does not exist along the normal direction of the layer or on the in-plane of the layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer having an Re(550) of 20 to 150 nm and an Rth(550) of 40 to 110 nm with Re(450) Re(550)<?3 nm and Rth(450)?Rth(550)>3 nm.

Abstract: An optical film which has Re(?) and Rth(?) fulfilling the following two formulae: 0?Re(590)?10 |Rth(590)|?25 wherein Re(?) is a retardation value in plane (nm) at a wavelength of ?nm; and Rth(?) is a retardation value in film thickness direction (nm) at a wavelength of ?mm.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal display device (LCD) is disclosed. The LCD comprises at least, a member of generating polarized light, a retardation member, a first polarizing element, a liquid-crystal cell and a second polarizing element, in this order, wherein the retardation member satisfies at least one condition of (i) its in-plane retardation, Re, is from 10 nm to 3000 nm at a wavelength falling within a range from 400 to 780 nm, and (ii) its thickness-direction retardation, Rth, is from 60 nm to 3000 nm at a wavelength falling within a range from 400 to 780 nm.

Abstract: A polymer film that has an in-plane retardation Re(?) and a thickness-direction retardation Rth(?) satisfying formula (i) and (ii), and that further has a surface energy of at least one surface is from 50 mN/m to 80 mN/m: (i) 0?Re(630)?10, and |Rth(630)|?25; and (ii) |Re(400)?Re(700)?10, and |Rth(400)?Rth(700)|?35. in the formulae, Re(?) and Rth(?) are measurement values at the wavelength of ? nm, and an optically-compensatory film, an optical material such as a polarizer and a liquid-crystal display device using the polymer film.

Abstract: A method for recovery of polymer, comprising contacting a polarizing plate comprising a polarizing element and first and second polymer films on its both surfaces, with at least an aqueous liquid, and then applying shear force to the polarizing plate to thereby separate the polarizing element and at least the first polymer film, is disclosed.

Abstract: A polarizing plate protective film is provided and has a transparent substrate that is insoluble in a solvent having a dielectric constant of 10 or more and provided with an easily-adhesive layer and a hard coating layer on at least one side thereof in this order.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: A novel retardation film is disclosed. The film comprises a transparent substrate and an optically anisotropic layer formed thereon by fixing a liquid crystalline compound in an aligned state, wherein the retardation film, when positioned between two polarizers in a crossed Nicol arrangement, has a frontal luminance within a range of 0.700 to 0.000 cd/m2. A novel liquid crystal display is also disclosed. The display comprises a first polarizing film, the retardation film positioned in contact with a surface of the first polarizing film, a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed of a liquid crystal material, and a second substrate positioned in this order, in which liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material are aligned in a black state parallel to surfaces of a pair of the substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device wherein an optically anisotropic layer is formed on an optical film satisfying that Rth is 0 to 150 nm at 23° C./60% RH and the difference between Rth at 23° C./10% RH and Rth at 23° C./80% RH is 40% or less of Rth at 23° C./60% RH. In the liquid crystal display, liquid crystal cells are optically compensated accurately and less affected in the display properties even when the storage environment changes.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one compound having a fluoro-aliphatic group and at least one hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group (—COOH), a sulfo group (—SO3H), a sulfato group (—OSO3H), a phosphonoxy group {—OP(?O)(OH)2} and salts thereof; at least one onium salt; and at least one liquid-crystal compound is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A polarizer-protective film includes: a film including a polyester resin as the essential ingredient thereof, and having a moisture permeability of at most 700 g/m2·day and an in-plane retardation Re of at least 500 nm; and a light-scattering layer provided on at least one surface of the film.

Abstract: An image display device comprising a panel including a substrate, a foreside laminated body arranged on the viewer side of the substrate, and a backside laminated body arranged on the opposite side of the substrate, wherein the foreside laminated body comprises a polarizer, a viewer side protective film and a substrate side protective film having a thickness thinner than that of the viewer side protective film by 10 ?m or more. The device suppresses lowering in display performance by preventing warpage of the panel.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.